Snow and ice

[Springbok]

Does anyone know how to create realistic looking ice and snow, without spending a fortune in hobbystores?

 

[Avelorn]

baking soda (bicarbonate of soda is better I\'ve heard, never used it) b, white glue (PVA), chrushed glass for sparkle. Water effects is good though for icicles. But you can use gloss warnish in layers and a fishing thread as well.

A really good article on the subject:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/323

 

[Einion]

Also see the thread started only a few days ago Best Microballon product?

If you use an acrylic gel medium (Golden, Liquitex and many other makers offer one) instead of PVA you can get a more transluscent effect.

Einion

 

[demonherald]

use two part epoxy clear glue..(araldite or similar) mix it and spread on a freezer bag or similar using a cocktail stick.
When it\'s dry you can cut it to make cool icicles.....
Bicarb is good but can go mushy if you have too much glue..build it up in fine layers...and as Einion said use a clear gel base adds a nice sort of melting snow effect where it is exposed as well.

If you want to make your own snow get a Mortar and pestle.Crush bits of glass in it just be careful (where a mask and goggles is the safest best..)gives a cool glittery snow powder..

 

[airhead]

use the bicarb or microballoons, but sprinkle alum (you find it in the spice rack) over the top to get the sparkle. Much safer than glass.

 

[Springbok]

Great stuff guys, thank you!
Will be trying these tips out a.s.a.p.:beer:

 

[demonherald]

Originally posted by airhead
use the bicarb or microballoons, but sprinkle alum (you find it in the spice rack) over the top to get the sparkle. Much safer than glass.

good call I just like playing with dangerous stuff:drunk:

 

[Avelorn]

Originally posted by airhead
use the bicarb or microballoons, but sprinkle alum (you find it in the spice rack) over the top to get the sparkle. Much safer than glass.

Cool tips hehe but comparing to breathing in those dreaded microballoons I\'d say that glass is pretty safe!

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by Avelorn
...but comparing to breathing in those dreaded microballoons I\'d say that glass is pretty safe!

Microballoons are inert resin spheres. If you packed your lungs full of them, you\'d probably have some troubles from them. But they would not cut tissue like little bits of ground or powdered glass.

Glass or sand dust will lead to a condition called silicosis - bad lung problems.

If I am playing with either, I get a dust mask. Cheap insurance.

 

[mickc22]

...and if you\'ve never used microballoons before, DO NOT sneeze on them!!
In fact don\'t even breathe on them, they will go everywhere

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by airhead

Originally posted by Avelorn
...but comparing to breathing in those dreaded microballoons I\'d say that glass is pretty safe!

Microballoons are inert resin spheres.

Microballoons are generally glass spherules; unless they specifically refer to a resin in the product name or description.

Einion

 

[Elia Cid]

Hi Springbok,

Snow and ice has always been a challenge to paint effectively.

In the piece below by Side Show the snow was so well textured that I decided to just to paint it striate out.
I agree with many of the recommendations and I have used and recommend Microballoons products,

My only concern with many of these products is the visual scale.

However you may want to try out some ready made snow like the one from Andrea Miniatures.

I recommend painting the snow whenever possible ,in conjunction with the readymade snow as to not depend on the readymade stuff and when you do use it use it as a touch-up and sparingly.

-Best,

Alex (Trismegistus)

Bury Christmas
1/6th Scale, From Side Show
Painted by Alex Castro
Scott Pierce’s Private Collection

 

[DaN]

As Elia said - if you get the ground texture right, and paint it then you get a more convincing sense of scale and depth (Think of deep snow falls taking on that soft blue)

This will also save on expensive products - or at least, you can use them more sparingly over the top of this in order to provide that sparkle.

 

[Elia Cid]

Originally posted by DaN
As Elia said - if you get the ground texture right, and paint it then you get a more convincing sense of scale and depth (Think of deep snow falls taking on that soft blue)

This will also save on expensive products - or at least, you can use them more sparingly over the top of this in order to provide that sparkle.

-DaN thanks,

This is an example of what DaN is taking about.

But In this example the Andréa readymade snow is sparingly applied and mixed in with the mud for effect.

The key is not to go overbroad.

Alex (Trismegistus)

The Break, Eastern Front ,1942

The Break\" 90 mm scale, white metal and resin with photo etched parts, from Andrea Miniatures, built and painted by Alex Castro.

 

[Springbok]

Thank you to everyone for helping me on the subject!!!!!!
Being from South Africa, you dont get to see that much snow, so everyones comments are greatly appreciated!:drunk:

 

[Einion]

The problem with painted snow is it looks like that exactly - painted snow. The whole reason to use something that simulates a snow-like structure/appearance is that in the round it looks much more convincing. In photos certain painted effects can look great, but in the flesh they fall down (much like NMM can).

Originally posted by DaN
(Think of deep snow falls taking on that soft blue)

I\'ve never once seen that pulled off successfully on a mini. On larger-scale stuff (including above the scales used for historical figures) I\'ve also never seen it where it looked right.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by Einion
I\'ve never once seen that pulled off successfully on a mini. On larger-scale stuff (including above the scales used for historical figures) I\'ve also never seen it where it looked right.

Einion

yeah ditto. looks like a challenge to me!

 

[Elia Cid]

\"The Silver Warrior\"

Originally posted by freakinacage

Originally posted by Einion
I\'ve never once seen that pulled off successfully on a mini. On larger-scale stuff (including above the scales used for historical figures) I\'ve also never seen it where it looked right.

Einion

yeah ditto. looks like a challenge to me!

- Freakinacage,

Talk about a challenge with snow, take a look at this prototype piece I’ll be paint mastering for ReelArt Studios / Dark Horse Comics in the next few months.
Frank Frazetta\'s \"The Silver Warrior\". See link http://alexcastromodels.blogs.com/alex_castros_models/2007/07/index.html

I wonder if I can pull it off.

Stay tuned,

Alex (Trismegistus)

Frank Frazetta\'s \"The Silver Warrior\"

 

[mickc22]

I like to think this turned out pretty well, this was done before I had the microballoons

Snow was Bi-carb + PVA mix applied \"artistically\" then sprinkled over before it dried with more Bi-carb
the icicles are Woodland Scenics \"Water Effects\" hung from a toothpick, left to dry, then removed and glued to the base
...if thats any help

 

[mud duck]

Question. It seems to me that the trick to applying snow, is to do it in layers. Mind you I\'ve never done it before, but the covering on things like rocks would be thicker then say bare ground do to the earth warming fast and soaking up the water, or do I have it backwards? Humm.... lets see, it should start to snow around these parts pretty soon (Halloween) in melt in no time flat, so I guess that I have to get back on that one.